Labor ministers conflicted on proposal to remove the Union Jack from the Australian flag

[00:00:00]Just on national values, what about national symbols? With the ALP national conference happening in Adelaide on the weekend, one of the major left-wing unions, the Amalgamated Manufacturing Workers Union, is proposing a new policy to remove the Union Jack from our flag.

[00:00:18]And can you believe it? Get rid of colonial statues across the country.

[00:00:23]The proposal to be debated over the weekend says we need to strip away the constant reminders of the old ruling class and colonial empire.

[00:00:34]And it goes on to say that symbols of oppression, like the Union Jack and our flag on our flag, are offensive colonial Sorry, the Union Jack on our flag, of course, and offensive colonial statues must be removed from public life.

[00:00:54]These people really have hang-ups, don't they? The Union Jack as a symbol of oppression?

[00:01:01]Do they not notice the freedom, democracy, and rule of law all around them?

[00:01:07]Don't they remember who defeated rampant nationalism and fascism across Europe, not once, but twice in the previous century?

[00:01:17]Don't they have any sense of history and about how many Australians have fought for freedom and died under that very flag?

[00:01:26]Yet, even Labor ministers seem conflicted by this issue.

[00:01:31]>> Would you be up for changing it, Clare?

[00:01:33]>> Look, and that that's just not what the conference is is about. So, when that one's put up, yes or no, Clare?

[00:01:39]Uh again, that Sorry, it's not something that I've I've had a moment to think about.

[00:01:43]>> Look, it's if it comes up, it's been in the paper today. You've You've got a head start. Yes or no?

[00:01:48]>> And that genuinely haven't given it a second thought.

[00:01:51]>> Okay. Okay. You've got You've got 3 minutes left in the segment.

[00:01:54]>> I Daisy. I spent my time thinking about the fact that we've got um home ownership rates plummeting through the floor for young people.

[00:02:03]>> Talk about out of touch and out of step.

[00:02:05]It's a gift for the opposition.

[00:02:08]>> It's extraordinary that Clare O'Neil is out there today and she can't confirm that we should keep our Australian flag. She can't confirm that we should keep our Australian flag. Well, I'll tell you what, I am proud of our Australian flag.

[00:02:20]I know all Liberals and Nationals are proud of our Australian flag and we will keep it.

[00:02:27]>> Perhaps if the AMWU is interested in escaping freedom [snorts] and oppression, it ought to push for changes that get rid of the factional control of the Labor Party and the rules that demand all Labor politicians are members of a union.

[00:02:47]How about focusing on a fight for more freedom under the red banner of the Labor Party?

[00:02:53]Because outside the Labor Party, we're actually all free and we're not being oppressed.